Tuesday 30 June 2009

We are just back from Paris where we went to see Adrian Noble's new production of Carmen at the Opera Comique, where the work was premiered in 1875 (though the present theatre dates from 1898). It was very much a British production, Adrian Noble directed, Mark Thompson designed, Sir John Eliot Gardiner conducted and they used Richard Langham Smith's new edition. Carmen was Anna Caterina Antonacci. A full review will appear in due course.

Whilst in Paris we went to the Church of St. Eugene et Ste. Cecile, near the Conservatoire, where they offer sung Tridentine Mass every Sunday morning at 11.00am. The mass is sung by the Schole Ste Cecile, and they provided beautifully sung plainchant for the propers and the ordinary along with a couple of motets. As someone who sings at Latin Mass and in the occasional Tridentine Mass, it was interesting to hear some of the plainchant using women as cantors rather than men. And the occasional use of organum and drones was lovely. The service lasted nearly two hours and was extremely full.

2 comments:

  1. Welcome to Saint-Eugene, Robert !

    I was in Wigratzbad next sunday.

    If your are still in Paris, we will have a beautiful mass next saturday (4th of July, at 10), for one of our membres newly ordained as a priest. I hope the Schola will do the best for this great occasion !

    http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=203411310452&ref=mf
    http://www.schola-sainte-cecile.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alas we're back in London but will undoubtedly be back at your church next time we are in London.

    An aquaintance of mine, at whose Tridientine masses I have sung, was ordained at Wigratzbad about 10 years ago.

    ReplyDelete

Popular Posts this month